Folding shelf



Patented Sept. 3, 1929.

UNITED STATES 1,727,048 eArsNroFFlcE.

MABEL H. CADY, OF DIROIT, MICHIGAN.

'FOLDING SHELF.

Application filed December rlhis invention relates to folding shelves orstands adapted for use in kitchens or apartment houses where space isvaluable, and the principle involved in this invention may be embodiedin a tea table, household cart or movable structure.

The primary object of my invention is to provide a structure embodying aplurality of superposed shelves or trays that may be main tained in auseful horizontal position or swung into overlapped closely assembledrelation so as to occupy a comparatively small space when not in use.rllhe shelves or trays may be made of light and durable metal linishedto present a. neat and attractive appearance and said shelves areadapted to be supported by legs or uprights that may be provided withwheels so that the shelving affords a movable table or support forvarious kinds of articles.

Another object of this invention is to provide a simple, durable andinexpensive fold able shelf structure wherein shelves articulate legs oruprights and said legs or uprights have pivotal connection with theshelves for collapsing purposes. Means may be employed `for lining theshelves in either of the two positions in which they may be placed sothat there is a rigid, easily handled structure in either instance.

My invention, which constitutes a new article of manufacture, will behereinafter specifically described and then claimed, and reference willnow be had to the drawing wherein Figure l is a perspective view of thefoldable shelves in a useful position;

Fig. 2 is a vertical cross sectional view of the same showing theshelves folded in full lines and extended in dotted lines;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged cross sectional view of a portion of one of theshelves, and

F ig. 4f is a detail sectional view of a shelf connection with a leg orupright.

Considering my new article of manufacture 5, 1925. Serial No. 73,358.

mounted in the legs against rotation or may be loose therein, as willhereinafter appear. The rods of the set of legs l are opposed to therods of the set of legs 2 and connecting said rods are shelves 6 spaceda suitable distance apart to permit of easy access being had to thelowermost shelves. Each shelf may be made of sheet metal or other lightand durable material enameled or otherwise finished to harmonize withthe legs l and 2 and present a neat and attractive appearance, besidesbeing sanitary for kitchen purposes.

rIhe longitudinal edges of each shelf are rolled or otherwise formed toprovide barrels 7 for two purposes. First, that of einbracing the rods 5to support the shelves and in some instances establish a pivot or hingeconnection between the shelves and the rods, particularly when the rodsare fixed relative to the legs l and 2. If the ends of the rods areloose in the legs the barrels 7 of the shelves may be clamped on therods 5 or suitably attached thereto.

The second purpose of the barrels 7 is to form a longitudinal ledge 8outside of each shelf and these ledges will prevent accidentaldisplacement of articles placed on the shelf. Obviously the end edges ofthe shelves may be upturned for a similar purpose. So far this is asimple form of folding shelves and by reference to Fig. 2 it will benoted that one set of legs may be raised and placed substantially inparallelism and in close proximity to the other set of legs, so that theshelves are shifted into a close arrangement, angular relative to thelegs, thus providing a compact form of shelving that may be set aside orstored to occupy a comparatively small space when not in use and yet atall times be convenient for general or emergency use.

, When the ends of the rods 5 are pivoted in the legs 1 and 2 and theshelves 6 fixed relative to said rods, the legs l and 2 may haveopenings 9 for easy rotation of the rods 5 in said legs. Between theends of the shelf barrels and the side walls of the legs may be placedwashers l0 and on the eXtreme ends of the rods may be placed screw capsor ornamentations 11. It is by virtue of the screw caps that the legsmay be clamped against the washers l0 and said washers against the endsof the shelf barrels, thus providing means for securing the foldableshelving in either an extended or collapsed position. It will not benecessary to tighten all of the screw caps for clamping purposes, as aset of said caps in connection with each set of legs will accomplish thedesired result.

lt is thought that the utility of niy invention will loe apparentwithout further description, and while in the drawing there areillustrated the preferred embodiment of my invention, it is to heunderstood that the structural elements are susceptible to suchvariations and inodications as fall Within the scope oli' the appendedclaims.

l/Vhat I claim is l. As a new article of manufacture, two sets of legs,cross rods connecting each set independent of the other set, shelvessupported on said cross rods, rounded barrels on the ends of saidshelves, said rounded barrels being adapted to partly surround said rodsand pivotally connect the two sets of legs, and ineens whereby said legsmay he clamped against said shelves to prevent swivelling or folding.

2. As a new article of manufacture, two sets of legs, cross rodsconnecting each set independent of the other set, shelves supported onsaid cross rods, rounded barrels on the ends of said'shelves, saidrounded barrels being adapted to partly surround said rods and pivotallyconnect the two sets of legs, clamping'nuts adapted to he screwed onsaid connecting rods and adapted to clamp saidlegs tightl against saidshelves to hold the article in the open or folded position.

ln testimony whereof I aiiiX my signatur MABEL H. GABY.

